Home: Identity Theft : Where do the Candidates Stand on Identity Theft?

Where do the Candidates Stand on Identity Theft?

Posted by Grace Alexander on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008

There has been controversy throughout this entire campaign regarding identity fraud being used to illegally funnel campaign contributions to various candidates. In previous elections, identity fraud was alleged to have been used to cast invalid ballots. In a country where every person is supposed to have a voice, the idea that someone could steal that right away and use it wrongly is not to be tolerated.

The Democratic Proposal - Obama:

Barack Obama voiced concerns in the Senate over the loss of 26.5 million veterans’ personal identifying information by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2006. He claimed : “The system is so poorly designed that one employee can compromise the whole thing.”

The controversial candidate’s Technology and Innovation Plan, laid out at the height of his battle for the Democratic Presidential bid, is intended to provide “robust protection against misuses of particularly sensitive kinds of information, such as e-health records and location data that do not fit comfortably within sector-specific privacy laws.”

Obama plans, if elected, to implement restrictions on how information in “powerful databases containing information on Americans that are necessary tools in the fight against terrorism” can be used. He also would enact measures to verify how the information actually has been used.

Another facet of Obama’s proposed plan would increase the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement budget and step up international cooperation to track down cyber-criminals, thus enabling U.S. law enforcement to better prevent and punish “spam, spyware, telemarketing and phishing intrusions into the privacy of American homes and computers.”

However, in 2007, Obama voted against a bill that would have cracked down on illegal immigrants convicted of identity theft or fraudulent use of identification documents, denying them legal status and providing for deportation.

The Republican Ticket - McCain:

John McCain voted against the same amendment in 2007, but did coauthor the ID Theft Protection Act of 2005, and has been instrumental in fighting for stricter legislation of online activity, particularly in the arena of children’s protection and privacy. However, he has remained silent on the subject of identity theft during his campaign.

McCain’s official stand on the idea if identity theft and fraud was last clarified in 2001, when as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee he commented:

“There’s a groundswell of pressure to pass legislation to protect Internet users’ privacy. This is all well-intentioned, and some legislation is needed, but we must be extremely cautious that any legislation passed correctly balances privacy rights against overzealous regulations that cripple the burgeoning Internet economy.”

The ‘Veeps’:

Running mates Palin and Biden have their own take on the matter – Palin herself has been a victim of sorts as her information was hacked by the overzealous son of an opposing party member. Biden voted with McCain and against Obama on the issue of means testing for bankruptcy eligibility – Obama voted aye to exempt victims of identity theft while McCain and Biden voted nay.

All candidates claim to regard identity theft issues and fraud prevention as a priority, but when faced with hot button issues like the war in Iraq, healthcare system woes and energy crises, ID theft and fraud may well be shoved to back burner.